How to Set Up Steam Link on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV
Steam Link allows you to stream games from your gaming rig to a mobile device, and it’s (finally) back in Apple’s App Store! In this guide, we’ll help you set up Steam Link on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV.
What Is Steam Link?
Initially, Steam Link was a $50 set-top-box you connected to your TV. It enabled you to stream your Steam library from a host PC on the same network. It arrived alongside Valve’s now-defunct Steam Machine initiative.
Given most gamers now own mobile devices, smart TVs, and set-top-boxes, Valve discontinued the hardware version in favor of an app-based solution. However, Apple removed Valve Software’s Steam Link app in May 2018, citing “business conflicts.”
Much has changed since then, including the addition of Xbox Wireless and PlayStation 4 DualShock controller support. Meanwhile, Valve added Bluetooth Low Energy support to its custom Steam controller so gamers could pair it with mobile devices.
The Steam Link app finally returned in May 2019, allowing PC gamers to play their favorite Steam titles on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.
No Longer Locked to Home Networks
According to Valve, your host PC must have a four-core processor at the very least to use Steam Link. The company doesn’t specify any other minimum or recommended hardware requirements. However, your PC should run your library at an acceptable resolution and frame rate, even while streaming.
Your host PC should also use a wired (Ethernet) or 5 GHz wireless connection. The former is your best option, although most home networks don’t have ethernet cables draped everywhere. The same is recommended for client PCs.
Finally, Valve expanded Steam’s streaming component (now dubbed Remote Play) in June 2019. As long as you pair the host and client, and the host remains actively connected to the internet, you can stream your PC library from anywhere—not just when you’re at home. Again, though, the network connection is vital—even more so if you want to stream games via a cellular connection.
Ultimately, gameplay relies on your host PC’s hardware, its connection to the local network, the local traffic, and your client device. To stream outside your home, you have to consider additional factors, including your internet’s bandwidth, your wireless carrier’s connection, and the proximity of Valve’s closest data center.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to enable Remote Play, pair your controllers, and link your Apple devices.
Turn on Remote Play (Steam)
To enable Remote Play, turn on your host PC, open Steam, and sign in to your account. Click “Steam” in the top-left corner, and then select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
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In the pop-up panel, click “Remote Play” (formerly “In-Home Streaming”), and then click the checkbox next to “Enable Remote Play” if it’s not already check marked.
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Next, click “Advanced Host Options” below the linked devices list. On the following screen, you can make adjustments to enable the best remote gameplay possible.
For starters, disable audio on the host. Select the “Enable Hardware Encoding” and “Prioritize Network Traffic” options, and then click OK.
You can experiment with the other settings and see how the stream performs on your network.
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For the best results, don’t allow Steam to change the resolution to match your streaming client. For example, if you stream to a 4K TV, but your PC can’t handle that resolution, you’ll experience low frame rates and input lag. If necessary, you can adjust the resolution manually in-game to match the client device.
Another option is to adjust the capture resolution dynamically. This bases the image quality on your network’s bandwidth. So, if someone starts watching Hulu or Netflix while you’re streaming a game, this option lowers the resolution, so you don’t experience low frame rates or lag.
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